Ask: The Most Burning Questions Of 2009

In true Ask fashion, we’ve got the answers (well…not complete answers) to what the most popular questions were on Ask.com during the year. According to Ask.com, visitors are three times more likely to type search queries in the form of a question. Holding steady at 50 million visits per month (October 2009, ComScore), question based searches continue to grow year over year on Ask.

Falling in line with the most popular searches on other engines, questions surrounding the economic crisis and financial stability were among the popular categories, but it was the celebrity rumors that created the most comic relief in the search stimulus package. Searchers were feverishly fighting off symptoms of the Swine Flu, while trying to get answers on a number of health and fitness issues. Popular question categories unique to Ask.com include the most popular searches on Ask Kids, and likely from the Ask.com / Nascar partnership.

Meanwhile, across the pond…an entirely different set of questions arose:

Ask Jeeves’ UK fastest rising searches of 2009

What is Twitter?

Have I got swine flu?

Is Lady Gaga a man?

Who is Aleksandr Orlov?

Is Michael Jackson dead?

Where is my nearest Primark?

Who is the father of Heather’s baby in EastEnders?

What is the Lisbon Treaty?

When will the recession end?

What is cervical cancer?

Needing a little bit of help to understand what brought on some of these questions? Ask UK provided some insight:

While Lady Gaga’s sexuality is at third on the list of rising questions, at number four is ‘ Who is Aleksandr (corr) Orlov?’ the animated Russian meerkat in TV adverts for an internet comparison website.

His catchphrase “Simples” has become a favourite among TV viewers and led to scores of queries from search engine users, including questions about where he comes from and the voice is behind him.

In fact he is voiced by Simon Greenall, who also starred as Geordie hotel worker Michael in ‘I’m Alan Partridge’.

Note that since this is the UK list, the 10th most asked question about cervical cancer, most likely can be linked to the cause of death for the reality star, Jade Goody, of the UK “Big Brother” edition, who made the “Farewell Searches” Top 10 list in Yahoo’s annual recap.

In support of the theory that at the close of the decade, our search habits are indeed changing at a much faster rate, Nadia Kelly, a spokesperson for Ask Jeeves, added:

“Last year we looked at our top questions on Ask Jeeves and found that the identity of the Stig from Top Gear was on everyone’s minds. This year, we have had a wide variety of unusual searches from Lady Gaga’s gender to TV meerkat to swine flu symptoms. It proves that more people than ever are turning to internet search engines for answers to not only everyday things, but weird and wacky subjects too.The internet has become the virtual text book of choice for millions with its ability to give quick and accurate answers to even the most bizarre questions.”

The full recap for Ask.com’s most popular questions of 2009, can be found here.

About The Author

Elisabeth Osmeloski is Director of Audience Development for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. She is responsible for increasing readership through owned, earned and paid media channels. In addition, she assists in programming sessions at Third Door Media's Search Marketing Expo conference series and manages speaking engagements for editorial staff. Follow her on Twitter @elisabethos.

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